17-oxygenated 16-haloestr-5(10)-enes



United States Patent )fifice Patented Mar. 13, 1952 3,025,308 l7-0XYGENATED 16-HALOESTR-5(ttl)-ENES William il Johns, Morton Grove, and George P. Muelier,

Park Ridge, ill, assignors to G. D. Searle & (10., Chicage, lll., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed st. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 845,656 lti Claims. (Cl. 260-4973) The present invention relates to compounds possessing the steroid ring structure which are halogenated in the lo-position and more specifically to l7-oxygcnated l6- haloestr-5(10)-enes of the structural formula wherein X is a halo radical and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethylene (lower alkanoyloxy)methylene, and carbonyl radicals. Among the lower alkanoyl radicals encompassed by Z are formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl, enanthyl, caprylyl, and branched-chain isomers thereof, said alkanoyl radicals being the acyl radicals of aliphatic carboxylic acids containing less than nine carbon atoms.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial Number 797,041, filed March 4, 1959; and now abandoned.

The l6-halo compounds disclosed in the instant application can exist in two stereoisomeric forms depending upon the configuration of the halogen atom with respect to the ring. These two stereoisomers, designated at and t3, can be prepared by dissimilar stereoselective processes.

The 16uchloro-, 16a-bromo-, and 16a-iodoestr-5(l0) en-l7-ones'of the present invention can be prepared by treating an appropriate l7(lower alkanoyloxy)estra- 5(lO),l6-diene with the desired halogen in an inert solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, destroying the excess halogen, and isolating the product. As a specific example, l7-acetoxyestra-5(l0),lG-diene is treated with chlorine in carbon tetrachloride solution, sodium thiosulfate added to destroy the excess chlorine, and the product isolated to aiford 16a-chloroestr-5(lO)-en-l7-o-ne.

A preferred method for obtaining 16oc-iOdOCStI-5 (l0)- en-l7-one, specifically, comprises treating a l7-(lower alkanoyloxy)estra-5(lO),l6-diene in acetic acid with iodine in the presence of mercuric acetate. For example, treatment of 17-acetoxyestra-5(10),16-diene with iodine and mercuric acetate in acetic acid results in 16ot-iodoestr- 5(l0)-en-17-one.

The 16,8-chloroand l6fl-bromoestr-5(10)-en-17-ones, on the other hand, can be prepared by treating 16eiodcestr-5(l0)-en-l7-one with the appropriate lithium halide. For example, l6ot-iodoestr-5(l0)-en-l7-one in dimethylformamide is treated with lithium chloride to yield l6B-chloroestr-5 l0)-en-17-one.

The l7-(lower alkanoyloxy)estra-5(10),l6-dienes are again starting materials for the preparation of 16B-iodoestr-5(lO)-en-l7-one. As a specific example, 17-acetoxyestra-S (),l6-diene is treated with N-iodosuccinimide in dioxane and the product isolated to afford 16B- iodoestr-S l0)-en-l7-one.

l6fi-fluoroestr-S (10)-en-l7-one can be prepared by treating the corresponding 16oc-i0d0 compound with silver fluoride in a polar solvent such as acetonitrile. The product is isolated from the filtrate after removal of the silver salts by filtration. Epimerization of the l6B-fluoro isomer by treatment of the latter with an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide in methanol results in 16stfluoroestr-5(10)-en-17-one.

The intermediate 17-(lower alkanoyloxy)estra-5(l0), l6-dienes can be prepared by treating estr-5(l0)-en-l7- one with the appropriate alkanoyl anhydride in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid. A particularly suitable intermediate, also a compound of this invention, is prepared by treating estr-5(l0)-en-l7-one (Belgian Patent 566,297, pp. 12-13; March 31, 1958) with isopropenyl acetate in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid to afford 17-acetoXyestra-5 l0) ,16-diene.

The l6-haloestr-S(10)-en-l7-0ls of the present invention can be preparedby treating the corresponding 16- haloestr-5(lO)-en-l7-one with a reducing agent such as lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride. For example, l6-bromoestr-5(l0)-en-l7-one in tetrahydrofuran is treated with lithium aluminum hydride and the excess hydride destroyed to afford l6-bromoestr-5(l0)- en-l7-ol.

The l7-(lo wer alkanoyloxy)-16-haloestr-5 lO)-enes can be obtained from the l6-haloestr-5(10)-en-l7-ols by esterification with the appropriate lower allianoic acid anhydride.

The compounds of the present invention are useful because of their valuable pharmacological properties. They have, for example, the capacity to decrease the serum concentration of cholesterol and the corresponding chloesterolzphospholipid ratio without at the same time producing the potent estrogenic side-effects characteristic of prior art compositions adapted to regulation of cholesterol metabolism.

As is demonstrated supra, 17-acetoxyestra-5(l0),l6- diene of the present invention is useful also by virtue of its function as an intermediate in the preparation of the instant 17-oxygenated l6a-haloestr-5(l0)-enes.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are set forth by way of illustration only and it will be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited in spirit or in scope by the details contained therein as many modifications in materials and methods will be apparent from this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In these examples temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.). Quantities of materials are expressed in parts by weight except where otherwise noted.

EXAMPLE 1 17-Acetoxyestra-5 (10),]6-Diene diene, M.P. ll7-l20.

EXAMPLE 2 16a-Chl0r0estr-5 (1 -en-1 7-0ne To a vigorously stirred solution of 0.98 part of 17- acetoxyestra-(l0),16-diene in 64 parts of carbon tetrachloride at is added 10 parts of anhydrous potassium carbonate followed by 1.4 equivalents of chlorine dissolved in carbon tetrachloride. The excess chlorine is destroyed by the addition of an aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution and the mixture extracted with methylene chloride. The extract is washed with water, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography on silica gel resulting in pure 16a-cl1loroestr-5(10)-en-17- one, M.P. 120-123"; which possesses a maximum in the infrared at about 5.71 microns.

By substituting an equivalent quantity of bromine or iodine and otherwise proceeding according to the herein described processes, l6a-bromoestr-5(10)-en-17-one, M.P. 151-153", and 16a-iodoestr-5(10)-en-17-one are obtained. Each of the latter compounds exhibits a maximum in the infrared at about 5.71 microns.

EXAMPLE 3 16a-I0d0estr-5 (10) -erz-1 7-0ne tracted with benzene and the benzene extract washed suc-- cessively with aqueous sodium thiosulfate, water, and aqueous potassium bicarbonate. The solution is first dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, then evaporated to dryness in vacuo. Crystallization from methanol affords l6u-iodoestr-5(10)-en-17-one which exhibits a maximum in the infrared at 5 .71 microns.

EXAMPLE 4 I GB-Fluoroestr-Ji (10)-em] 7-0ne A solution of 2 parts of 16a-iodoestr-5(10)-en-17-one in 100 parts of acetonitrile is heated at reflux for 24 hours in a Soxhlet apparatus containing 12 parts of silver fluoride. The cooled mixture is filtered to remove the silver salts and the filtrate diluted with chloroform. The chloroform solution is washed with water, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel and eluted with a 75% benzene-% petroleum ether solution. Final purification is effected by recrystallization from a benzene-petroleum ether solution to yield 16fl-fiuoroestr- 5(10)-en-1 7-one whose infrared spectrum possesses a maximum at about 5.68 microns.

EXAMPLE 5 1 6oz-Flu0r0estr-5 (I 0) -en-I 7 -0ne To a solution of 2.4 parts of 16B-fluoroestr-5(10)-en- 17-one in 400 parts of methanol is added 20 parts of 10 N aqueous potassium hydroxide, and the mixture heated at reflux for about 20 minutes. This reaction mixture is cooled, diluted with water, and extracted with benzene. The benzene layer is washed with water, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography on silica gel followed by recrystallization from an acetonepetroleum ether solution to afford 16 mfiuoroestr-5(l0)- en-17-one. It possesses a maximum in the infrared at 5.68 microns.

EXAMPLE 6 16a-Chlor0estr-5 (10 -en-1 7-01 To a slurry of 3 parts of lithium aluminum hydride with 350 parts of diethyl ether is added a solution of 6' parts of 16a-chloroestr-5(10)-en-17-one in 350 parts of diethyl ether. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, then treated succesively with water and dilute hydrochloric acid to destroy the excess hydride. The resultant mixture is extracted with benzene, and the benzene extract dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is chromatographed on fullers earth and the two isomers, 16achloroestr-S 10)-en-17a-ol and 16a-chloroestr-5 10)-en- 17/3-01 (M.P. 9193), are obtained by successive elutions of the column. Each of these isomers exhibits maxima in its infrared spectrum at about 3.01 and 9.48 microns.

By substituting an equivalent quantity of 16a-bromoestr-5(10)-en-17-one, 16a-iodoestr-5(10)-en-17-one, or l6a-fluoroestr-5(10)-en-l7-one, and otherwise proceeding according to the herein described processes, 16a-br0moestr-5(l0)-en-l7a-ol, 16a bromoestr 5(10)-en-17B ol, 160t-lOdO6Str-5(10)-61'1-1706-01, 160t-lOdO6StI'-5(10)-61147;;- 01, 16a-fluoroestr-5(10)-en-17u-ol, and 16ot-fiUO1'OBSiI- 5(l0)-en-l7fi-ol are obtained.

EXAMPLE 7 16,8-Chloroestr-5 (10)-@11-1 7-0ne To a solution of 6 parts of IGa-iOdOfiStf-S(10)-611-17- one in 250 parts of dimethylformamide is added 20 parts of lithium chloride and the mixture stirred for 6 hours. The mixture is diluted with water and the precipitated product collected by filtration. Recrystallization of the precipitate from methanol yields 16B-chloroestr-5( 10)-en- 17-one. This substance exhibits a maximum in its infrared spectrum at about 5 .71 microns.

By substituting an equivalent quantity of lithium bromide, and otherwise proceeding according to the herein described processes, 16fl-bromoestr-5(10)-en-l7-one is obtained.

EXAMPLE 8 16 8-Iod0estr-5 (J 0) -en-] 7-0ne A mixture of 6.5 parts of 17-acetoxyestra-5(10),16- diene, 5 parts of N-iodosuccinimide, and 12 parts of dioxane is heated, under an atmosphere of nitrogen, at for 2 hours. The cooled reaction mixture is diluted with methanol, then poured into excess aqueous potassium iodide. The mixture is treated with aqueous sodium thiosulfate, cooled in an ice-bath, and filtered to remove the crude product. Purification of the crude product by chromatography on silica gel and elution with a 50% benzene-50% petroleum ether solution followed by recrystallization from methanol yields 16,8-iodestr 5(10)- en-17-one. It exhibits a maximum in the infrared at 5.71 microns.

EXAMPLE 9 17(3-Acet0w-16a-chloroestr-5 (10) -ene' EXAMPLE 10 16a-Bromo-J 7fl-propi0noxyestr-5 (10)-me A mixture of one part of 16u-bromoestr-5(10)-en-17fiol, 20 parts of pyridine, and 13 parts of propionlc anhydride is heated on the steam bath for about one hour. The reaction mixture is worked up according to the 5 process of Example 9 to afford 16otbromo-17fl-propionoxyestr-S 10 -ene.

The substitution of an equivalent quantity of 16aiodoestr-S (10)-61'1-l7m-01 in the instant process results in 16u-i0d0- l 7a-propionoxyestr-5 10) -ene.

5 What is claimed is: l. A compound of the structural formula wherein X is a halo radical and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethylene (lower alkanoyl) oXy-methylene, and carbonyl radicals.

16-chloroestr-5(10)-en-17-one.

3. 16-bromoestr-5(10)-en-17-one. 4. 16-iodoestr-5(10)-en-17-one. 5. 16-fiuor0estr-5 10)-en-17-one. 6. 7 8 9 l 16a-chloroestr-5(10)-en-17-ol.

. l6oc-bromoestr-5 10) -en- 17-01. 16a-iodoestr-5(10)-en-17-ol.

l6a-fiuoroestr-5(10)-en-17-ol.

17-acetoxyestr-5 10) ,16-diene.

No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA 